Sources
Help build the largest human-edited directory on the web.
Submit a site - Become an editor
Wikipedia. Licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Are you an expert in this subject? Join the discussion and share your knowledge at Wikipedia.org.
Myristic acid
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Myristic acid[1] | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| IUPAC name | tetradecanoic acid |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | |
| PubChem | |
| SMILES | CCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)O |
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C14H28O2 |
| Molar mass | 228.37092 |
| Density | 0.8622 g/cm3 |
| Melting point |
58.8 °C |
| Boiling point |
250.5 °C at 100 mmHg |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references |
|
Myristic acid, also called tetradecanoic acid, is a common saturated fatty acid with the molecular formula CH3(CH2)12COOH. A myristate is a salt or ester of myristic acid.
Myristic acid is named after the nutmeg (Myristica fragrans). Nutmeg butter is 75% trimyristin, the triglyceride of myristic acid. Besides nutmeg, myristic acid is also found in palm oil, butter fat and spermacetin, the crystallized fraction of oil from the sperm whale.
Myristic acid is also commonly added co-translationally to the penultimate, nitrogen terminus, glycine in receptor-associated kinases to confer the membrane localisation of the enzyme. The myristic acid has a sufficiently high hydrophobicity to become incorporated into the fatty acyl core of the phospholipid bilayer of the plasma membrane of the eukaryotic cell. In this way, myristic acid acts as a lipid anchor in biomembranes.
The ester isopropyl myristate is used in cosmetic and topical medicinal preparations where good absorption through the skin is desired.
Myristic acid was discovered by Harry Diehl under NIH. He was hired to find something to help athritis while there are now many more uses for it. He patented it in 1977.
Reduction of myristic acid yields myristyl alcohol.
- ^ Merck Index, 11th Edition, 6246